Carlos Alcaraz drops verdict on Roger Federer’s golf skills after Australian Open win
Carlos Alcaraz played a round of golf with Roger Federer and was impressed with the tennis legend’s skills
Carlos Alcaraz, the world number one, recently enjoyed a round of golf with tennis icon Roger Federer, an experience the 22-year-old Spaniard found as effortlessly stylish as Federer's legendary on-court game.
"Everything he does, he does in style," Alcaraz remarked, noting that Federer's golf swing is "as beautiful as the tennis."
The light-hearted encounter, which saw Federer emerge victorious despite playing less frequently, was revealed after Alcaraz's dominant second-round victory at the Australian Open, where he continues his pursuit of a historic milestone.
This anecdote emerged following Alcaraz's commanding 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2 win over Yannick Hanfmann on Wednesday, a significant step in his ambitious quest to become the youngest male player to complete a career Grand Slam.
This achievement, a full collection of all four major tennis trophies, took Federer seven years to secure after his first major title.
Alcaraz, who already boasts six major titles – two each from Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open – now only requires the Australian Open crown to complete his personal Slam.
He has, however, never progressed beyond the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, making this year's campaign particularly crucial for his legacy.
His journey is further complicated by the intense rivalry with Jannik Sinner, a dynamic dubbed "Sincaraz," with Sinner having claimed the last two Australian titles.
The two young stars have evenly split the last eight majors between them, setting the stage for potential future clashes deep into the tournament.
To gain an edge, Alcaraz has been diligently refining aspects of his game, most notably his serve, which now strikingly resembles that of Novak Djokovic.
The 10-time Melbourne Park champion, who holds 24 major titles, has reportedly taken notice of Alcaraz's evolving technique.
With both Djokovic and the second-ranked Sinner positioned on the opposite side of the draw, Alcaraz has the strategic advantage of observing his primary competitors during his off-days at Melbourne Park, free from other sporting distractions.
Alcaraz's immediate focus now shifts to Corentin Moutet, the world number 32, in the third round.
Moutet advanced after American qualifier Michael Zheng was forced to retire from their second-round match on Court 6 due to an adductor strain, with Moutet leading 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, 2-0.
Zheng, a promising collegiate tennis star from Columbia University, attributed his injury to the demanding transition to best-of-five set matches and the rigours of qualifying for his first Grand Slam main draw, a challenge that ultimately proved too much for his body.
Despite the premature exit, the 21-year-old Zheng, a two-time NCAA individual champion in 2024 and '25, expressed considerable pride in his Australian Open debut, which included a hard-fought five-set victory over Sebastian Korda for his inaugural tour-level win.
"Qualifying for the first time, making the first round, and in a tough match, too, saving a match point," Zheng recounted.
"Winning the first round was amazing against a former top-20 player." His one regret was the missed opportunity to face Alcaraz, a prospect he had considered since the draw was announced.
"When the draw came out, you know, you saw Alcaraz. You’re in that section," he said.
"Of course, it’s always in the back of the mind, you get the chance to play the No. 1 player in the world, it doesn’t happen very often. He’s someone who is going to go down as a legend in the sport. Definitely unfortunate, but hopefully I’ll get the opportunity in the future."
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